Good Afternoon ladies and gentleman of the jury.

We are here today for our client,

Monsieur Meursault. Our names are Ginopatrick Arasga and Kristian Saunar, the lead defense
attorneys of this case.

Our client, Monsieur Meursault, has been convicted of first degree murder. Youre all
going to hear the defendant's side of the story. Our defendant had a diminished responsibility
in the murder of the Arab because the Arab had actually taken his knife out. It was a lapse of
judgement due to emotional trauma from the loss of his dear mother. And due to the heat, our
dear clients moment of clarity was lost and he acted on impulse. As you all know in Algeria the
heat is quite terrible, especially on the beaches. Our client was clearly affected by the heat and
how it nearly blinded him, (It was burning, which I couldnt stand anymore. pg 59)(My eyes
were blinded behind the curtain of tears and salt. pg. 59). If it wasnt so hot, then Monsieur
Meursault wouldnt have been blinded by the heat and he wouldve had more common sense
and wouldnt have pulled out the gun and would've walked away. But again, Meursault had
recently lost his mother, so he wasnt in the place of mind to begin with. (It was just the same
sort of heat as at my mothers funeral, and I had the same disagreeable sensationsespecially
in my forehead, where all the veins seemed to be bursting through the skin. pg 38). Also, to
note, Monsieur Meursault has an indifferent outlook on life itself and is quite indifferent
regarding to human life and the killing would be placed under Second Degree Murder of the
third degree, killings resulting from a depraved indifference to Human Life.

As we said, Meursault was not thinking clearly. He also thought that the confrontation
was done and over. Meursault had never thought that he would ever meet the Arab at the
beach. It was merely coincidence. (My Impression has been that the incident was closed and I
hadnt given a thought to it on my way here.) pg 38.

So if anything, I would wish that our clients offence be lowered to somewhere on the
lines of involuntary manslaughter, as it wasnt intended at all or second degree murder; it was
merely coincidence for them to meet. Yes, Monsieur Meursault, raised his gun, but the Arab as
well brandished his knife. As well, the heat also played a major role. Meursault took the gun out
when the Arab took the knife out, he was only trying to taunt and calm down the Arab to see if
he would put his knife away. Yet, due to the heat, Meursault was sweating excessively and the
trigger slipped in his hands. As a startled reaction to the sound of a gunshot, Meursault spazzed
out in panic and ultimately fired the gun 4 more times (The trigger gave, and the smooth
underbelly of the butt jogged my palm. pg. 39). So, in conclusion, Monsieur merely taunted, but
the trigger gave out. The murder of the Arab came about as a result of recklessness, without
intent to kill, making involuntary manslaughter a much more fitting sentence for Meursaults
crime.